Non-skid strip

ABSTRACT

A non-skid strip for securing to a tread portion of a stair, a floor, a sloped passage, and the like. The non-skid strip may include a strip body adapted to be secured to the tread. The strip body may have an upper surface, and a lower surface connectable to the tread. Additionally, a plurality of cleat-like nodules may attach to and project away from the upper surface of the strip body.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of Canadian patent application No.2,707,905 filed Jun. 30, 2010, the entire contents of which are herebyincorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of non-skid devices and inparticular, to a long-lasting non-skid strip to be installed on stairs,floors, sloped passages, and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There have been proposed and employed in practice a variety of devicesfor protecting people from slippage on stairs, floors, sloped passages,and the like. One of the more common devices is grip tape. Generally,grip tape is an adhesive backed friction-surfaced paper strip or sheet.Grip tape generally comes in ready-to-apply-strips or rough sheetssimilar to adhesive-backed sandpaper. The grade and size of grit variesby company and manufacture method.

Grip tape is easy to apply; a user simply removes a smooth backing toexpose the adhesive, and then lays the tape onto a required surface.However, if applied carelessly small air pockets can become trappedbetween the surface and the tape leaving an unprofessional unfinishedlook.

Although easy to use and apply, grip tape is also susceptible toweathering. In high traffic areas exposed to the elements the tape has atendency to easily tear and pull away from the surface that it isapplied to. Moreover, over time the grit becomes easily worn down.

Accordingly, a need exists for an easy to use and install non-slipdevice that looks professionally installed and can withstand the rigorsof time and continued use in inclement weather. Other objects of theinvention will be apparent from the description that follows.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a non-skid stripfor securing to a tread portion of a stair, a floor, a sloped passage,and the like. The non-skid strip may include a rigid or flexible stripbody adapted to be secured to the tread. The strip body may have anupper surface, and a lower surface connectable to the tread. The upperand lower surfaces of the strip body may be substantially flat.

Attached to and projecting away from the upper surface of the strip bodymay be a plurality of cleat-like nodules which can frictionally engagethe bottom of a person's shoe to prevent them from slipping off of thestair tread. Each of the plurality of cleat-like nodules may beconically-shaped.

To secure the strip body to the stair tread, the non-skid strip mayinclude a fastener. A fastener may travel through a hole in the stripbody from the upper to the lower surface in order to be secured to thestair tread.

The strip body and plurality of cleat-like nodules may be integrallyformed from a single material such as plastic.

Other aspects of the invention will be appreciated by reference to thedetailed description of the preferred embodiment and to the claims thatfollow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiment of the invention will be described by referenceto the drawings thereof in which:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a non-skid strip in accordance withthe present invention affixed to a stair tread;

FIG. 2 is a right-side elevation of the non-skid strip of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is top plan view of the non-skid strip of FIG. 1 in isolation;and

FIG. 4 is a zoomed-in view of FIG. 3 of area 4-4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 a non-skid strip 10 is affixed to a stairtread 12. The non-skid strip includes a strip body 14 adapted to besecured to a tread 12 portion of a stair. The strip body 14 has an uppersurface 16 and a lower surface 18 connectable to the tread 12. Asdepicted, strip body 14 also includes a front edge 20, a rear edge 22, aleft edge 24 and a right edge 26. Generally, the front 20 and rear 22edges are preferably dimensioned longer than the left 24 and right 26edges so that the front and rear edges extend substantially the width ofa stair tread. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, strip body14 does not necessarily have to be rectangular in shape and can assumeany shape. Preferably, upper surface 16 and lower surface 18 are flat.

In addition, the height (h) of strip body 14 should generally be quitelow. A low profiled or substantially flat strip body 14 will allownon-skid strip 10 to sit more flush with the surface of stair tread 12and prevent a user from tripping over the non-skid strip as he or shewalks over it. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the actualdimensions and shape of the non-skid strip 10 can vary and may dependupon the non-skid strip's application and the surface to which it willbe affixed to.

As best depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4, attached to and projecting away fromthe upper surface 16 of the strip body 14 are a plurality of cleat-likenodules or protrusions 30 which can frictionally engage the bottom of aperson's shoe to prevent them from slipping off of the stair tread 12.Each of the plurality of cleat-like nodules 30 may be conically-shapedand come to form a tip 32. The plurality of cleat-like nodules 30 aredispersed over substantially the entire upper surface 16 and may bearranged in any desired pattern. As those skilled in the art willappreciate, the shape of a cleat-like nodule 30 and pattern of theirplacement along upper surface 16 can vary. For example, the cleat-likenodule 30 can be pyramid-shaped and dispersed randomly along the uppersurface 16.

Strip body 14 is adapted to be secured to a tread portion of a stair 12.As those skilled in the art will appreciate, strip body 14 may besecured to the stair tread 12 in a number of different ways, forexample, adhesives may simply be applied to lower surface 18 and thenstrip body 14 may simply be stuck to stair tread 12. As illustrated,preferably, strip body 14 comprises a hole 34 formed from the uppersurface 16 through to the lower surface 18. The hole 34 serves to guideplacement of a fastener 36 for securing the strip body 14 to the stairtread 12. Alternatively, or in combination with, a double-sided adhesivetape (not depicted) may be applied to the lower surface 18 to aid inaffixing the strip body 14 to the top of the stair tread 12. Use ofdouble-sided adhesive tape is optional, but may assist the user inpositioning and holding the strip body 14 onto the stair tread 12 beforeaffixing the strip body to the stair tread with fastener 36.Double-sided adhesive tape may run the entire length of, or be cut intosections, along bottom surface 18 of strip body 14. Fastener 36 may be anail; however, preferably the fastener is a screw which allows foreasier installation and removal.

As best depicted in FIG. 4, hole 34 is preferably stretched withstraight portions 36 and 38 bound by curved portions 40 and 42 toresemble a flattened oval or slotted hole. With this shape, this has theadvantage of allowing the fastener 36 to move with the stair tread 12relative to the strip body 14. Allowing this movement is advantageous asit allows the strip body 14 to remain in place as the fastener 36 andstair tread 12 move, for example, when the tread expands due to swellingfrom moisture absorption or contraction in cold temperatures. As thoseskilled in the art will appreciate, this movement is accomplished bestwhen fastener 36 is mostly tightened down near the middle of theflattened oval or slotted shaped hole 34 during initial installation. Toincrease the aesthetic look of the strip 10 when installed with thefastener 36, and to prevent the fastener head 44 from projecting abovethe cleat-like nodule 30 and pose as a safety hazard, hole 34 may becountersunk within strip body 14 leaving a ledge 46 for the head of thefastener 36 to travel upon. As depicted, a wall 48 may also be formedaround hole 34 to match with the fastener head 44 and to provide supportto the fastener 36 as it moves within hole 34.

Strip body 14 may be constructed from any suitable material, such asplastic, rubber or steel. Strip body 14 may be rigid; however,preferably, strip body 14 is flexible which will allow it to bend andfollow the undulations of the stair tread 12 as the tread undergoesexpansion and contraction caused by the external elements. Strip body 14may be formed simply by punching or cutting the desired shape from alarger sheet of material. Preferably, strip body 14 and plurality ofcleat-like nodules 30 are integrally formed from a single material suchas plastic and may be formed from a mold.

It will thus be seen that a new and novel non-skid strip has beenillustrated and described and it will be apparent to those skilled inthe art that various changes and modifications may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

1. A non-skid strip for securing to a tread portion of a stair, a floor,a sloped passage, and the like, the non-skid strip comprising: a stripbody adapted to be secured to the tread, said strip body having an uppersurface, and a lower surface connectable to the tread; and a pluralityof cleat-like nodules attached to and projecting away from said uppersurface of said strip body.
 2. The non-skid strip of claim 1 whereinsaid strip body is rigid.
 3. The non-skid strip of claim 1 wherein saidstrip body is flexible.
 4. The non-skid strip of claim 1 furthercomprising a fastener for securing said strip body to the tread.
 5. Thenon-skid strip of claim 4 wherein said strip body further comprises athrough-hole formed from said upper surface to said lower surface, saidhole adapted to receive said fastener.
 6. The non-skid strip of claim 1wherein said strip body and plurality of cleat-like nodules areintegrally formed from a single material.
 7. The non-skid strip of claim1 wherein said single material comprises plastic.
 8. The non-skid stripof claim 1 wherein said each of said plurality of cleat-like nodules isconically-shaped.
 9. The non-skid strip of claim 1 wherein said upperand lower surfaces of said strip body are substantially flat.
 10. Anon-skid strip for securing to a tread portion of a stair, a floor, asloped passage, and the like, the non-skid strip comprising: a stripbody adapted to be secured to the tread, said strip body having an uppersurface, and a lower surface connectable to the tread; and a pluralityof conically-shaped cleat-like nodules attached to and projecting awayfrom said upper surface of said strip body.
 11. The non-skid strip ofclaim 10 wherein said strip body is rigid.
 12. The non-skid strip ofclaim 10 wherein said strip body is flexible.
 13. The non-skid strip ofclaim 10 further comprising a fastener for securing said strip body tothe tread.
 14. The non-skid strip of claim 13 wherein said strip bodyfurther comprises a through-hole formed from said upper surface to saidlower surface, said hole adapted to receive said fasteners.
 15. Thenon-skid strip of claim 10 wherein said strip body and plurality ofconically-shaped cleat-like nodules are integrally formed from a singlematerial.
 16. The non-skid strip of claim 10 wherein said singlematerial comprises plastic.
 17. The non-skid strip of claim 10 whereinsaid upper and lower surfaces of said strip body are substantially flat.18. A non-skid strip for securing to a tread portion of a stair, afloor, a sloped passage, and the like, the non-skid strip comprising: asubstantially flat strip body adapted to be secured to the tread, saidflat strip body having an upper surface, and a lower surface connectableto the tread; and a plurality of conically-shaped cleat-like nodulesattached to and projecting away from said upper surface of saidsubstantially flat strip body.
 19. The non-skid strip of claim 18wherein said flat strip body is rigid.
 20. The non-skid strip of claim18 wherein said flat strip body is flexible.
 21. The non-skid strip ofclaim 18 further comprising a fastener for securing said flat strip bodyto the tread.
 22. The non-skid strip of claim 21 wherein said flat stripbody further comprises a through-hole formed from said upper surface tosaid lower surface, said hole adapted to receive said fasteners.
 23. Thenon-skid strip of claim 18 wherein said flat strip body and plurality ofconically-shaped cleat-like nodules are integrally formed from a singlematerial.
 24. The non-skid strip of claim 18 wherein said singlematerial comprises plastic.